20th Asian Games begin in Japan’s Aichi-Nagoya

• The 20th Asian Games opened in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan on September 19.

• The opening ceremony was held at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, marking the start of the continental sporting extravaganza.

• The event will see participation of over 11,000 athletes from 45 nations and regions competing for 369 gold medals in a 43-sport programme.

• Japan has previously hosted Asian Games in 1958 (Tokyo) and 1994 (Hiroshima).

• The Asian Games are the biggest sports competition in Asia, held once every four years. 

• They are organised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), and have 45 participating countries or regions.

• The Olympic Council Of Asia (OCA) is an independent non-governmental no-for-profit international Asian sport organisation for unlimited duration recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Association of National Olympic Committee (ANOC) and the 45 member Asian National Olympic Committee (NOCs).

Mascot of Asian Games 2026

• ‘Honohon’ is the official mascot of Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026.

• The name “Honohon” is derived from the word “Honoho”, which is said to be the origin of the Japanese word meaning “flame”, that comes from the image of fire rising high and burning brightly, resembling the shape of a rice ear (“ho” in Japanese). 

• Aichi-Nagoya has historically been the birthplace of “Kabukimono”, eccentric samurai warriors who excelled in scholarship, martial arts, and the arts. 

• Inspired by this tradition, Honohon features red “Kumadori” makeup around its eyes, resembling the style used in Kabuki theater.

• “Imagine One Asia” is the official slogan for the 20th Asian Games.

History of Asian Games

• The first ever multisport games in Asia were organised in the year 1913, in Manila, Philippines known as ‘Far Eastern Championship Games’. These games continued until 1938.

• Meanwhile in the other parts of Asia, ‘West Asian Games’ were conducted from 1934 to 1938. 

• The first ‘West Asian Games’ were organised in New Delhi, India in the year 1934.

• Due to the Second World War, in 1938 all Asian Games were cancelled such as 1938 ‘Jerusalem Palestine 2nd West Asian Games’ and the ‘Osaka 11th Far Eastern Games’. 

• During the Summer Olympics London in 1948, the Asian NOCs presidents decided to unify all the games in Asia (the Far Eastern Games and the West Asian Games) into one Game called the Asian Games for all the NOCs in Asia. 

• The Asian Games Federation was formed in 1949 in New Delhi. 

• The first unified Asian Games were held in New Delhi, India in 1951.

• The second Asian Games were held in the year 1954 in Manila. 

• From then onwards, the games were organised once every four years.